EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Numerator for EPS:
Income from continuing operations									$ 2,222	$ 7,574	$ 9,008
Less:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	$ (8)	$ 34	$ (9)	$ 9	$ 20	$ 9	$ (37)	$ 3	26	(5)	7
Net income (loss) attributable to AIG from continuing operations									2,196	7,579	9,001
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ (17)	$ 16	$ 1	$ (35)	$ 2	$ 30	$ (47)	0	(50)	84
Net income attributable to AIG common shareholders									$ 2,196	$ 7,529	$ 9,085
Denominator for EPS:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	1,226,880,632	1,279,072,748	1,329,157,366	1,365,951,690	1,391,790,420	1,419,239,774	1,442,397,111	1,459,249,393	1,299,825,350	1,427,959,799	1,474,171,690
Dilutive shares									34,639,533	19,593,853	7,035,107
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	1,226,880,632	1,279,072,748	1,365,390,431	1,386,263,549	1,412,162,456	1,442,067,842	1,464,676,330	1,472,510,813	1,334,464,883	1,447,553,652	1,481,206,797
Basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ (1.5)	$ (0.17)	$ 1.34	$ 1.81	$ 0.5	$ 1.54	$ 2.11	$ 1.13	$ 1.69	$ 5.31	$ 6.11
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(0.01)	0.01	0	(0.03)	0	0.02	(0.03)	0	(0.04)	0.05
Net income attributable to AIG									1.69	5.27	6.16
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations	(1.5)	(0.17)	1.31	1.78	0.49	1.52	2.08	1.12	1.65	5.24	6.08
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ 0	$ (0.03)	$ 0	$ 0.02	$ (0.03)	0	(0.04)	0.05
Net Income attributable to AIG									$ 1.65	$ 5.2	$ 6.13
Number of shares, warrants, and options excluded from diluted shares outstanding because the effect would have been anti-dilutive									200,000	300,000	38,000,000